Royals Prince Harry Wins Legal Right to Challenge Removal of His U.K. Government Security Prince Harry's automatic right to U.K. police security was removed after his January 2020 decision to step back from frontline royal duties By Phil Boucher Phil Boucher Phil Boucher is an editor at PEOPLE and based in London. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 22, 2022 09:07 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Prince Harry has won the right to challenge the status of the U.K. security arrangements put in place following his decision to step back from frontline royal duties. The ruling follows a February 2020 decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) to remove Harry's automatic right to U.K. police security after his bombshell January 2020 announcement. On Friday, Judge Jonathan Swift granted the Duke of Sussex, 37, "Permission to apply for judicial review" over the RAVEC decision in legal papers obtained by PEOPLE. The decision means that the legal action will now proceed to a full hearing at the High Court in London between Harry and the U.K. government — an unprecedented situation in modern times. Prince William and Kate Middleton Are Heading to Boston — with a Little Help from the Red Sox! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in London. AARON CHOWN/getty On July 7, the High Court heard that Harry and wife Meghan Markle's security has been dealt with on a "flexible, case-by-case" basis since they made their decision to step back. Harry's legal team has previously stated that Harry "does not feel safe" bringing children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, to the U.K. under this arrangement because his U.S. security team does not have jurisdiction in the U.K. or access to U.K. government intelligence. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Speaking in court on July 9, his attorney Shaheed Fatima stated that "what flexible sometimes means is no security." In reply, U.K. government attorney Sir James Eadie QC said that RAVEC was forced to reassess Harry's security following his decision to step back with Meghan, 40, and based its decision on the core principle of "whether the security should be automatic" because of the change in their circumstances. Prince George Flashes a Big Smile in New 9th Birthday Portrait Taken by Mom Kate Middleton Prince Harry speaks at the United Nations in New York. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Eadie added that the whole thing was "purely a matter of judgment for RAVEC" and that Harry "should not be able to simply demand security," because he is the Queen's grandson. The U.K. government also refused Prince Harry's offer to pay for Scotland Yard security for his family whenever they visit the UK, the court heard. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! "Police are actively putting themselves at risk in the public interest," added Eadie. The Biggest Bombshells From Princess Diana's Panorama Interview in 1995 The U.K. government now has 56 days to file papers relating to the case. A date for the hearing has yet to be finalized. The legal decision comes a day after a U.K. court ruled that the BBC pay Harry and Prince William's former nanny 'substantial' damages over "totally unfounded allegations" made about her by disgraced journalist Martin Bashir to secure a 1995 interview with Princess Diana. Tiggy Legge-Bourke (now known as Alexandra Pettifer), who was employed as a nanny to William and Harry in the '90s, also received an apology, the BBC reported Thursday.